Results 1 - 4 of 4
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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | Why this is not taught? | 1 John 3:9 | Pastor Glenn | 145102 | ||
Hello Brother Tim, "Romans 6 doesn't teach two natures residing together, but the death of the old man." Rom 6:12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. Rom 6:13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. Does'nt these verses indicate a choice for the Christian to yield to God (walk after the spirit) rather than to walk after the flesh? I thought that the word "carnal" would be useful in this study. After performing a search using the word carnal here is what I got: Romans 7:14 For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin. Romans 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. Romans 8:4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. Romans 8:5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. Romans 8:6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Romans 8:7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. Romans 15:27 It hath pleased them verily; and their debtors they are. For if the Gentiles have been made partakers of their spiritual things, their duty is also to minister unto them in carnal things. 1Corinthians 3:1 And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. 1Corinthians 3:3 For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men? 1Corinthians 3:4 For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal? Is'nt carnality the same as being babes in Christ? Heb 5:11 Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing. Heb 5:12 For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. Heb 5:13 For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. Heb 5:14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. Galatians 5:16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. Galatians 5:17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. Galatians 6:8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. Does'nt these scriptures indicate a struggle within the Christian; Sprit vs Flesh? Your brother in Christ, Pastor Glenn |
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2 | Why this is not taught? | 1 John 3:9 | Morant61 | 145103 | ||
Greetings Pastor Glenn! I'm not sure that they present so much a struggle as a choice. Rom. 6, 8, and Gal. 5, and 6 all make it clear that a Christian has a choice to serve either the flesh or the Spirit. However, the point of contention is the identity of the person in Rom. 7, who is described as a 'slave to sin'. This directly contradicts Romans 6 where we are told that we are no longer slaves to sin. So, much approach is to say that Romans 7 describes a religious Jew (Paul), who wanted to obey God's Law but could not because of his sin nature. Romans 6 and 8 describe a Christian, who can choice to obey or not. To your list of Scriptures above, I would add Rom. 8:9, "You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ." The word translated as 'sinful nature' by the NIV is the same word used in Rom. 8:4, 5, 6, and 7 in your list above as 'flesh'. This would certainly indicate to me that while a believer can give into the flesh, he is no longer a slave to it. Your Brother in Christ, Tim Moran |
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3 | Why this is not taught? | 1 John 3:9 | Pastor Glenn | 145116 | ||
Hello Brother Tim, "I'm not sure that they present so much a struggle as a choice." Maybe. :o) But isn't a carnal Christian struggling in his choices between flesh and spirit? "This would certainly indicate to me that while a believer can give into the flesh, he is no longer a slave to it." Yes, but for how long can a believer give in to the flesh before he is considered a slave to it; a moment, a month, or a few years? I motion that the scriptures are showing that we are the slaves of sin each and every time that we choose to walk after the flesh: Gal 5:16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. Gal 5:17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. Your brother in Christ, Pastor Glenn |
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4 | Why this is not taught? | 1 John 3:9 | Morant61 | 145117 | ||
Greetings Pastor Glenn! Sorry about the double post! :-) While I certainly give into the flesh at times, I really don't view it as a struggle. I don't want to do the things of the flesh. And, Romans 8 indicates to me that a 'carnal' Christian isn't really a Christian. Rom. 8:9 - "You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ." Notice also that Rom. 8:4 says that we 'do not live according to the sinful nature' and Rom. 8:8 says that those who do cannot please God. I certainly do agree that we become slaves again to what we obey, which is what Paul says in Rom. 6:16. However, v. 17 and 18 make is clear that Christians are no longer slaves to sin. The reason I don't prefer the word struggle is because 'struggle' implies that the sinful nature has some power or hold over us. Rom. 6 makes it clear that it does not. Romans 8 makes it clear that we have the Spirit of Christ and are not controlled by the sinful nature. So, I would say that when we do sin, it is not the result of losing an internal struggle but the result of a wilfull choice to not obey God. It was within our power to obey, but we chose not to do so. Just as a side note, one reason I reject that Rom. 7 is a description of a Christian is because the person described in Rom. 7 never does what he really wants to do. He always fails and is a slave to sin. Does this really describe the reality of a Christian's walk? I don't always fail. :-) I normally, and habitually live right. It is unusual when I do sin, as it should be! ;-) Your Brother in Christ, Tim Moran |
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